Become a Lifeline for Veterans: Program Support Assistant in Lawrenceville, Georgia

For military veterans returning from service, transitioning back to civilian life can represent an emotional and logistical challenge. The Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS), a critical branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs, bridges this gap by offering specialized counseling and support through local community-based Vet Centers. At the heart of each Vet Center's operations is an administrative professional who ensures that the center remains welcoming, efficient, and fully functional.

The Veterans Health Administration is currently hiring a Program Support Assistant (GS-07) for its location in Lawrenceville, Georgia. This direct-hire position represents an extraordinary opportunity for detail-oriented administrative professionals to play a direct, hands-on role in improving the lives of local veterans. As the sole administrative staff member on site, you will be the face of the clinic and the operational engine that keeps counseling services running smoothly.

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Job Responsibilities

As the only administrative professional permanently stationed at the Lawrenceville Vet Center, you will wear many hats. Your work will be divided into three primary categories:

1. Administrative Duties (50% of time)

• Software & Systems Management: Utilize Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) to draft official correspondence, format spreadsheets, and design tracking databases.
• Database Maintenance: Update and manage the proprietary RCSNet database, as well as tracking applications like IFCAP (Integrated Funds Control, Accounting, and Procurement) and IPPS (Invoice Payment and Processing System).
• Timekeeping & Financial Logs: Serve as the primary timekeeper for Vet Center staff, tracking bi-weekly leave and work hours. Additionally, hold the official Vet Center purchase card, maintaining rigorous logs for fiscal transactions and government vehicle usage.
• Records Auditing: Organize and keep staff and administrative folders current, including licenses, training certs, and performance evaluations.
• Quality Control: Review incoming communications, ensuring flawless formatting, grammar, spelling, and adherence to approved RCS style manuals.

2. Program Support (25% of time)

• Office Efficiency: Monitor, order, and maintain office equipment and supplies. Coordinate facilities repairs by placing technical work orders.
• Promotional Materials: Under the direction of the Vet Center Director, design and distribute informational brochures, local pamphlets, and outreach materials to increase community awareness.
• Project Management: Create and implement database tracking tools for various program-wide assignments.

3. Front Desk & Office Operations (25% of time)

• Patient & Visitor Relations: Create a warm, welcoming lobby environment. Maintain tidy reception areas and manage coffee/refreshment stations daily.
• Security & Triage: Personally greet incoming veterans and visitors, verify appointments, and notify counselors of client arrivals.
• Crisis Support: Utilize specialized Vet Center training and sharp interpersonal observation to identify clients experiencing emotional distress, immediately looping in counseling staff for active crisis intervention.

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Requirements & Qualifications

To qualify for this GS-07 Program Support Assistant position, you must meet several key criteria:

Professional Experience

• Specialized Experience: You must possess at least one full year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level in federal service. This experience includes managing professional databases, scheduling appointments, writing business correspondence, and tracking operational budgets.
• Volunteer & Part-Time Credit: The VA recognizes that critical skillsets are often developed through unpaid volunteer work, national service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps), and religious or community organizations. Full credit is given for this experience on a prorated basis (35–40 hours per week constitutes a full year).

Conditions of Employment

• Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of the United States.
• Background & Suitability: Candidates must successfully pass a background and security investigation, credentialing checks, and a suitability review.
• Flu Shot Mandate: As healthcare personnel within VHA clinics, employees must receive an annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an approved medical/religious exemption.
• Probationary Period: New hires will undergo a one-year probationary evaluation.
• REAL ID Compliance: Effective May 7, 2025, state-issued IDs or driver's licenses used for onboarding verification must be REAL ID compliant.

Resume Constraints

Starting in late 2025, federal agencies have implemented a strict two-page resume limit to align with modernized merit hiring practices. Resumes exceeding two pages will lead to automatic disqualification.

Your resume must be:

1. Under 5MB in size (PDF is highly recommended to maintain layout and page count).
2. Set to 0.5-inch margins.
3. Styled in a readable sans-serif font (such as Calibri, Helvetica, or Arial) in 10-point body and 14-point title sizes.
4. Detailed with exact start/end dates (Month/Year) and average hours worked per week for every position listed.

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Salary & Financial Overview

The Program Support Assistant position is classified under the General Schedule (GS) system as a GS-07. The pay scale is structured as follows:

Pay/Benefit Metric	GS-07 Program Support Assistant	Typical Private Sector Equivalent
Salary Range	$53,361 - $69,371 per year	$41,000 - $52,000 per year
Retirement Structure	Pension (FERS) + TSP Match up to 5%	401(k) Match only (no defined pension)
Work-Life Balance	Stable 40-hr week with comp time / overtime	Unpaid overtime or unpredictable scheduling
Leave Accrual Match	Non-federal experience credited to leave accrual	Strictly tenure-based accrual starting at minimum

Note: The federal government offers unique opportunities to credit previous non-federal, professional job experience toward annual leave accrual rates. Candidates can request this evaluation prior to their official start date to accelerate their vacation time accumulation.

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Comprehensive Benefits

Federal service at the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a premium, comprehensive suite of benefits designed to support long-term personal and financial security:

• Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB): Choose from a wide selection of comprehensive healthcare plans, with the government covering up to 75% of your premium costs.
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): A retirement savings program comparable to a private-sector 401(k), offering automatic agency contributions of 1% and dollar-for-dollar matches up to an additional 4%.
• Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS): A guaranteed defined-benefit pension calculated based on your years of service and high-three average salary.
• Flexible Work Scheduling: Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Occasional night and weekend support may be required to facilitate community outreach.
• Telework: This role is eligible for telework, with specific program arrangements discussed directly during the selection process.

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Application Tips & Strategies

Because this role uses Direct-Hire Authority, traditional veteran preference rankings are not applied; instead, all highly qualified applicants will receive immediate consideration. However, because of high demand, following exact application steps is critical:

1. Tailor Your Resume: Explicitly reference core GS-07 competencies on your resume. Highlight any experience with clerical communications, data management software, purchasing/budgeting, and public-facing customer service.
2. The 2-Page Rule: Do not include outdated or irrelevant jobs. Condense your experience into a crisp, impact-focused, two-page PDF document.
3. Prepare for USA Hire Assessments: After submitting your initial application, you will receive a unique link to the USA Hire online testing platform. Do not rush this assessment—set aside three quiet hours to complete it, as your scores will be locked and reused for any future applications for one full calendar year.
4. Quantify Your Resume: Do not simply write "answered phone calls and entered data." Instead, write: "Managed receptionist desk handling 40+ inbound daily inquiries and maintained database tracking for 200+ local counseling files weekly."

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is this position virtual or remote?

No, this is an on-site position based at the Vet Center in Lawrenceville, Georgia. However, some hybrid telework flexibility may be authorized depending on operational demands.

Q2: How does the Direct-Hire Authority impact veterans' preference?

Direct-Hire Authority bypasses standard competitive rating procedures to fill vacancies quickly. While veterans' preference rules do not formally apply to the scoring process, qualified veterans are given full consideration.

Q3: What happens if my resume is longer than two pages?

Beginning in late 2025, federal agencies will not accept resumes exceeding two pages. Resumes longer than two pages will lead to automatic disqualification. Ensure your uploaded file is compliant.

Q4: Can I save my progress on the USA Hire assessment?

Yes. If you need to stop during the assessment, you can use your unique link to log back in. However, it is highly recommended to complete the entire battery in a single, dedicated session.

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Serving as the Program Support Assistant at the Lawrenceville Vet Center is more than a clerical job—it is a mission-oriented opportunity to support those who defended our nation. As the logistical and administrative linchpin of the office, you will directly impact how comfortably, safely, and efficiently veterans receive counseling care. Apply today to secure a rewarding federal career and join the compassionate team at the Readjustment Counseling Service.